2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Bayelsa State
25 February 2023
All 3 Bayelsa State seats in the Senate of Nigeria
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party PDP APC
Last election 2 1
Seats before 2 1
     APC incumbent running for re-election
     PDP incumbent lost renomination
     PDP incumbent running for re-election

The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Bayelsa State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Bayelsa State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.

Background

In terms of the previous Senate elections, none of the three incumbent senators were returned as both Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Central) and Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP-East) retired from the Senate while Foster Ogola (PDP-West) lost renomination. In the Central district, Douye Diri retained the seat for the PDP with 54% of the vote while Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo held the West district for the PDP with 71%; on the other hand, Biobarakuma Degi (APC) gained the East district from the PDP with 46% of the vote. These senatorial results were an example of APC gains in the state as the party also gained two House of Representatives seats and Bayelsa swung the most towards Buhari in the presidential election of any state. Later in 2019, the swing towards the APC dramatically increased as its gubernatorial nominee David Lyon controversially won by a large margin but Diri was declared victor after Lyon was disqualified before the inauguration. Ensuing senate by-elections in 2020 were then easily won by the PDP, cementing the state's potentially erratic voting record.

Soon after starting their terms, the three newly elected senators gained notability as all three took part in the 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election: Diri was the PDP nominee with Ewhrudjakpo as his deputy running mate while Degi was deputy running mate to APC nominee David Lyon. Although Lyon won the election, albeit controversially, discrepancies in Degi's documentation led the Supreme Court to disqualify the ticket and award victory to Diri and Ewhrudjakpo.[1] When they took office in February 2020, their Senate seats were vacated leading to December 2020 by-elections. The PDP held both seat with Moses Cleopas gaining 86% in the East district while Henry Seriake Dickson won in the West district also with 86%.

Overview

Affiliation Party Total
PDP APC
Previous Election 2 1 3
Before Election 2 1 3
After Election 3 0 3

Summary

This table is an excerpt from 2023 Nigerian Senate election § Bayelsa State.[edit]
District Incumbent Results
Incumbent Party Status Candidates
Bayelsa Central Moses Cleopas PDP Incumbent lost renomination
New member elected
PDP hold
  • ▌Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe (APC)[2][3]
  • ▌Green tickY Kombowei Benson (PDP)[4][3]
Bayelsa East Biobarakuma Degi APC Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected
PDP gain
Bayelsa West Henry Seriake Dickson PDP Incumbent re-elected

Bayelsa Central

2023 Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe Konbowei Benson
Party APC PDP
Senator before election

Moses Cleopas
PDP

 Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Bayelsa Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Kolokuma/Opokuma, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa. In 2019, Douye Diri (PDP) was elected to the seat with 53.9% of the vote; however, Diri was elected Governor of Bayelsa State later that year and left the Senate in February 2020. Thus the incumbent is Moses Cleopas (PDP), who was elected with 85.8% of the vote in a December 2020 by-election. Cleopas sought election to a full term but was defeated in the PDP primary.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[8] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[9] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[10][11][12][13]

On May 28, two candidates contested a direct primary that ended with former Southern Ijaw Local Government Chairman Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe emerging as the nominee after results showed him defeating lawyer Julie Okah-Donli by a significant margin.[14]

APC primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe 38,532 90.59%
APC Julie Okah-Donli 4,003 9.41%
Total votes 42,535 100.00%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[15] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[16] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[17][18][19][20]

The indirect primary was beset by controversy when Cleopas' name was replaced on the ballot paper with a different name; although the primary organisers eventually printed new ballots, Cleopas had already rejected the process and walked out of the venue. After collation, results showed a sizable win for Konbowei Benson—former Secretary to the State Government and former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.[21] Cleopas challenged the Benson's eligibility at the Federal High Court but Benson's candidacy was upheld in a late November ruling.[22]

PDP primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Konbowei Benson 110 83.33%
PDP Moses Cleopas 22 16.67%
Total votes 132 100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Nimiye George Suoteigha
AA Ayah Enetimi
APP Joseph Gerebo
ADC James Braithwaite
APC Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe
APM Abson Abalaba
LP Dino Stephen Seleke
NRM Clarkson Jackson Ebibode
New Nigeria Peoples Party Ogionwo Austin Febo
PDP Konbowei Benson
SDP Ayebaketemunu Emendu
ZLP Kenny Justice Fiseye
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Bayelsa East

2023 Bayelsa East Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Biobarakuma Degi Benson Sunday Agadaga
Party APC PDP
Senator before election

Biobarakuma Degi
APC

 Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Bayelsa East Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Brass, Ogbia, and Nembe. The incumbent Biobarakuma Degi (APC), who was elected with 45.7% of the vote in 2019, is seeking re-election.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[8] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[9] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[10][11][12][13]

In the months before the primary, controversy emerged over Degi's re-election campaign; according to opposing community groups and others, the office is meant to be rotated between the district's three local government areas and Degi's renomination would violate this informal zoning agreement.[23][24] Despite the scandal, on May 28, Degi was renominated over former House of Representatives member Sodaguo Festus Omini in a landslide.[14]

APC primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Biobarakuma Degi 43,433 94.56%
APC Sodaguo Festus Omini 2,497 5.44%
Total votes 45,930 100.00%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[15] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[25] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[17][18][19][26]

On the primary date, three candidates contested an indirect primary that ended with former Chief of Staff to the State Government Benson Sunday Agadaga winning the nomination after results showed him defeating Jude Amiditor Rex-Ogbuku—former Executive Secretary of the Federal Character Commission—by a 24% margin.[27]

PDP primary results[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Benson Agadaga 67 60.91%
PDP Jude Amiditor Rex-Ogbuku 41 37.27%
PDP Nyenami Odual 2 1.82%
Total votes 110 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 N/A
Turnout 110 Unknown

General election

Results

2023 Bayelsa East Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
A Happiness Ewa
APP Inisaziba Rufus Ogoniba
ADC Ebikpolade Fuludu
APC Biobarakuma Degi
APM Omubo Benibo
NRM Kenneth Youngman
New Nigeria Peoples Party Nabhomam Ibibo
PDP Benson Sunday Agadaga
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

Bayelsa West

2023 Bayelsa West Senatorial District election
25 February 2023
 
Nominee Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha Henry Seriake Dickson
Party APC PDP
Senator before election

Henry Seriake Dickson
PDP

 Elected Senator

To be determined
To be determined

The Bayelsa West Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ekeremor and Sagbama. In 2019, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (PDP) was elected to the seat with 70.9% of the vote; however, Ewhrudjakpo was elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State later that year and left the Senate in February 2020. Thus the incumbent is Henry Seriake Dickson (PDP), who was elected with 86.3% of the vote in a December 2020 by-election. Dickson is running for election to a full term.

Primary elections

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for senatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and nomination form price at ₦17 million with a 50% discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[8] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 18 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[9] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for 16 and 17 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 27 May, in concurrence with other APC senatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 28 May.[10][11][12][13]

On May 28, two candidates contested a direct primary that ended with Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha—MHA for Ekeremor II—defeating Robinson Etolor in a landslide.[14]

APC primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha 23,187 91.54%
APC Robinson Etolor 2,142 8.46%
Total votes 25,329 100.00%

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its senatorial primary timetable, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 27 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[15] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 23 May, in concurrence with other PDP senatorial primaries but due to often violently enforced Monday stay-at-home orders by separatists, southeastern state parties held their primaries on 24 May;[28] challenges to the result could be made on 25 May.[17][18][19][29]

In the months before the primary, controversy emerged over Dickson's re-election campaign; according to opposing community groups and others, the office is meant to be rotated between the district's two local government areas and Dickson's renomination would violate this informal zoning agreement.[23][24] In contrast, pro-Dickson groups claim that the zoning agreement was never followed or recognized and thus Dickson can run for re-election.[30] Despite the controversy, Dickson was renominated over Donald Daunemeghan in a landslide.[27]

PDP primary results[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Henry Seriake Dickson 57 95.00%
PDP Donald Daunemeghan 3 5.00%
Total votes 60 100.00%

General election

Results

2023 Bayelsa West Senatorial District election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Keme-epigha Pius Akusi
APP Olando Isaiah Salo
ADC Goodnews Young Baraburu
APC Wilson Ayakpo Dauyegha
APM Dennis Michael Enebi
NRM Headman Jonah Eseburuku
New Nigeria Peoples Party Oweifie Ebi Ayeku
PDP Henry Seriake Dickson
YPP Tombra Mohammed
ZLP Alexander Peretu
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Supreme Court Sacks Lyon As Bayelsa Governor-Elect, Hours Before Inauguration". Channels TV. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Folaranmi, Femi (29 May 2022). "Road to 2023: Senator, two Reps members wins return tickets in Bayelsa". The Sun. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adenekan, Samson. "Download: Full List of 2023 Presidential, Vice Presidential, NASS candidates". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ↑ Oyadongha, Samuel; Idio, Emem. "Bayelsa PDP Primaries: Serving senator loses bid to clinch party ticket". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Oduma, Igoniko. "PDP Primaries: Ex-Speaker Picks Bayelsa Central Senatorial Ticket". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Lawal, Ebiowei (24 May 2022). "PDP Primaries: Dickson, Agadaga Get Bayelsa West, East Senatorial Tickets". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  7. ↑ James, Akam (24 May 2022). "PDP primaries: Dickson wins ticket for Bayelsa West". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Odunsi, Wale. "2023: APC extends sale of forms, fixes dates to elect delegates". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Nseyen, Nsikak. "2023: APC fixes new date for governorship primaries, others". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 11, 2022). "NEW DATES" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. 1 2 3 APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (May 18, 2022). "ADJUSTED TIMETABLE" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Folaranmi, Femi. "Road to 2023: Senator, two Reps members wins return tickets in Bayelsa". The Sun. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  18. 1 2 3 Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 Official PDP Nigeria [@OfficialPDPNig] (May 5, 2022). "2023 General Elections: @OfficialPDPNig updated Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections. See below" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  21. 1 2 Oyadongha, Samuel; Idio, Emem. "Bayelsa PDP Primaries: Serving senator loses bid to clinch party ticket". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Court Rules On PDP Bayelsa Senatorial Primary, Affirms Friday-Benson As Candidate". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  23. 1 2 Offong, Nsoyo. "Bayelsa senatorial polls: Degi, Dickson's ambition and charter of equity". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  24. 1 2 Odhe, John. "Zoning Confusion In Bayelsa * Degi, Dickson Set To Return For Record Breaking Second Term As Senators". TNN Newspaper. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  26. ↑ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Lawal, Ebiowei. "PDP Primaries: Dickson, Agadaga Get Bayelsa West, East Senatorial Tickets". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "IPOB's Sit-At-Home Forces PDP To Shift Primaries In South East". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  29. ↑ Oyeleke, Sodiq. "2023: Again, PDP adjusts dates for primaries". The Punch. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  30. ↑ Willie, Bassey. "'Bayelsa West Zoning Arrangement Has Never Been Respected'". Daily Trust. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
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